Pretty Wonderful ~ Buzzy Blooms ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend! 

Some days it just feels so good to get inky... I had a blast making this card. A little ink smooshing and ink blending and some white acrylic paint spatters can make for a good day in my book!

I inked up all of the stamps in the Buzzy Blooms kit. I used the honeycomb and script for my background. The blooms for my focal and then those beautiful bees for accents. I am smitten, y'all!! I made this beauty for a friend that is moving away. A little reminder for her that she is wonderful. The sentiment is from The Softest Thoughts stamps.

I ink smooshed and blended the background using Antique Linen, Evergreen Bough, Mermaid Lagoon, and Vintage Photo Distress Inks.

Copic markers used:

Flowers: Y21, YR21, YR02, R22

Centers: Y15, Y38, Y28

Leaves / Stems: YG00, YG95, YG67

Background: BG000, B000

Bees: Y11, Y38

I die cut the background panel using a die from the Zig-Zag Rectangles {nesting dies}. I wrapped the two corners with May Arts Natural Burlap String and secured them on the back with scotch tape. I tied a bow with two pieces of the string and adhered it using a mini glue dot. The sentiment is adhered to the flowers and then I popped it and the flowers up on the card with foam tape. I glued the left bee directly to the card and popped up the right bee to give it a little dimension. Love how this turned out!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky hugs,

Crystal

{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 66 ~ Tender Thoughts ~ Creative Worship Stamps

Hello there crafty friend!

I'm back with a little inspiration for the {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 66 hosted in the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Facebook group! Today I'm sharing a lovely Christmas card featuring a beautiful stamp set from our amazing Sponsor Creative Worship Stamps! This month's prize is a $20 gift code to Creative Worship Stamps! Woohoo!

I started by ink smooshing my backgrounds for this one onto a card front {4-1/4 x 5-1/2"} and a scrap of white card stock that was just large enough for the tree stamp from the Tender Thoughts Stamp and Die Bundle. I ink smooshed the panels with Stormy Sky, Seedless Preserves, and Chipped Sapphire Distress Inks. Once I was happy with the ink smooshing, I blended more Chipped Sapphire over the whole panel.

I dried the backgrounds completely with a Wagner Precision Heat Tool. I applied some anti static powder to the scrap panel. I stamped the beautiful trees from the Tender Thoughts Stamp and Die Bundle on my scrap panel using Sugar Cube Pigment Ink from Taylored Expressions and then I dusted the wet ink with Alabaster White Embossing Powder from Unity and melted it with a heat tool. I die cut the panel using a stitched circle die from the Scallops & Circles {nesting dies} from Unity. I also die cut a scrap of white card stock just to get the snowy ground piece for the deer. I fussy cut the wavy hill with EK Success Cutter Bee Scissors.

I die cut the background panel using a stitched rectangle die from the Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies} from Unity. I adhered the circle to the panel and then trimmed off the edge. And then I spattered the whole panel using Apple Barrel White Acrylic Paint. I stamped the deer with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and I started fussy cutting it on the line and then remembered too late that I had a die and could have used that to cut it out. I stamped the sentiment from the Holly Jolly Stamp & Die Bundle and die cut it out with the coordinating die. I popped up the sentiment on the card with foam tape. I finished the card off with a few pieces of White Glossy Card Bling from A Colorful Life Designs.

Here's a look at {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 66 for the month of February. If you're interested in seeing a bunch more inspiration for this sketch, check out the amazing inspiration from the design team over on the {BYSH} Cardmakers blog!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky hugs,

Crystal

Light Still Lives Here ~ Hope in the Heavy with Cottage Lane ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend! 

Sometimes life is hard and the darkness seems to take over... I pray you look to the light in the moment because it's there. Today I'm sharing sweet reminder that the light still lives here using two new releases from Unity. 

I stamped the gorgeous Cottage Lane background stamp on Kraft card stock and colored it with Copic markers and a white Prismacolor pencil. And then I die cut it using the largest die from the Deckle & Stitches Nesting Dies. Once the background was dry, I added some white acrylic paint spatters. I adhered the dried panel to a white A2 top fold card base.

Here's a quick list of the Copic markers I used:

Browns: E21, E25

Greens: YG63

Chimney: N2

Shadows for the White Areas: C0, C2

Have you played along with our Creating a Background Challenge happening right now in the Unity Show & Tell Facebook group? Background stamps are a great way to create a background for a card. I sure hope you'll join us. There's (3) $25 gift cards up for grabs... all you've got to do is enter a card where you've created a background for a chance to win one of the prizes.

I stamped the lovely sentiment from the Hope in the Heavy stamps. I trimmed it and popped it up on the card with foam tape. Hope you've been inspired to play along with the Creating a Background Challenge. We'd love to have you join in the fun! And I hope my encouraging card has brought some light to you if your feeling like you're in the darkness. Hugs.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky hugs,

Crystal

Making a Fun Background ~ That's a Wrap ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend! 

Today I'm sharing a fun holiday card I made with the awesome new That's a Wrap stamp from Unity. 

I love this new ribbon stamp! It would be great with pattern papers, too! I thought I'd make a fun background since we have the Creating a Background Challenge going in the Unity Show & Tell Facebook group... why not play along with a fun holiday card!

You can check out my process video here... Making a Fun Background | That's a Wrap | Unity Stamp Co. or click on the video below.

A little ink smooshing, ink blending, ink swiping, water spatters, and water stamping, plus regular stamping all happening to create this background. SO fun to  make! I used the beautiful Linen background stamp and Christmas Over Again background stamp. And I used Candied Apple, Lumberjack Plaid and Barn Door Distress Inks.

I stamped the beautiful That's a Wrap ribbon and sentiment on white card stock. I colored the shaded parts of the ribbon with a little Copic marker {C0 and C2}. I die cut the sentiment using a tag die from the Scalloped Tags die set. I fussy cut the ribbon leaving a white border. I share a fun trick for cutting inside the loops on my video.

It's like the card is a gift! I just love how this whole card turned out. Hope you've been inspired to play along with the Creating a Background challenge. We'd love to have you join in the fun! 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky hugs,

Crystal

Membership Wednesday ~ October 2025 KOM Frost & Folklore Snowman ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend!

Happy Membership Wednesday! Today I'm sharing a sweet wintry card I made using a cute stamp from the October 2025 Kit of the Month membership from Unity. 

I played with my Copic markers and white Prismacolor pencil and colored up this cute duo on some Kraft card stock. SO fun! 

Copic markers used:

Snowman: B000, B00, R20

Nose: YR20, YR15, YR68

Arms: E21, E25

Buttons: N0, N2, N4

Scarf: R20, R14, R29

Bird: Y11, Y15, Y35, B000, B00, B02

Heart: R14

I decided to keep the card simple with just some torn edges and a white layer peeking through the Kraft layers.

But I couldn't help adding some spatters to the card. Did I go a little overboard with the spatters? Maybe... but I love how it turned out! What do you think?

Here's a quick look at this month's Kit of the Month membership!

This adorable duo stamp is also available separately in the Frost & Feathers stamps.

That's it for me today! I hope you've been INKspired to play with your membership stamps! 

Have a wonderful day!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

Healing Takes Time ~ Drift & Remember ~ Unity Stamp Co.

Hello there crafty friend! 

So glad you've stopped by my blog! Today I'm sharing a couple of quick cards I made using the gorgeous new Drift & Remember stamps from Unity.

This gorgeous new dragonfly stamp is huge! I love it!

I stamped the dragonfly on two card fronts measuring 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" and die cut them using the stitched die from the Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies}. I then colored them up very simply with a couple of Copic markers. For my first card I used: BG000, BG01, BG72, Y11, C0, C2.

I added a touch of Sakura white gelly roll pen to the eyes. I stamped the sentiments and die cut them using a die from the Scalloped & Stitched Sentiment Nesting Dies.

For my second card I used the following Copic markers: RV10, RV02, Y11, C0, C2. I ink smooshed the colored dragonflies with a bit of Vintage Photo Distress Ink and added a bit of spatters too.

I adhered my layers to two Kraft A2 top fold card bases. Super quick cards and ready to mail out to two friends that recently had surgery.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inky hugs,

Crystal

~ Friends of Unity July 2025 Blog Hop ~

Hello there crafty friend!

It's time for our Friends of Unity Blog Hop!! This month's cue is a lot of fun! 

I love getting inky with a fun mixed media card. I did struggle a bit getting going with these but once I did some ink smooshing I was on a roll! I can't be the only one who finds ink smooshing so relaxing. I love it! It makes a bad day so much better.

I ink smooshed my background for this one using Twisted Citron and Peacock Feathers Distress Ink leaving a good amount of white space. I added a little bit of Squeezed Lemonade but it's really not noticeable. I partially inked up A Faithful Letter background stamp with Memento Tuxedo Black ink.

The pretty little butterflies are from the retired {...With Her Own Wings}. I just inked up a handful of the butterflies for the corners. I die cut the background using the largest die from the Scallops & Rectangles {nesting dies} and then I adhered it to a white A2 top fold card base. I finished off the background with some black acrylic paint spatters.   

The butterflies are from the Paper Wings stamps. I colored them with Copic markers and fussy cut them on the line except around the antennae where I left a white border. The butterflies are adhered to the card on their bodies and antennae. I folded up the wings for some dimension. The sentiment is from the Extended Celebration stamps. I trimmed it and adhered it to the card. I finished off the card with a few pearl embellishments I think I got from a Unity order.

My second card also has some ink smooshing. Ink smooshing is my go-to mixed media technique. This time I used Twisted Citron and Wild Honey Distress Inks. I wanted to use colors that I normally wouldn't put together. For some reason these colors made me want to work with a chicken stamp so I grabbed the fun new Still Peckin' Fabulous. 

 And then I stamped the fun Chicken Wire background stamp.... which is retired. Bummer! Maybe you have it in your stash. I stamped it with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. I also stamped the squiggly lines from the stamps called Never with the same ink. I heat embossed the circle trio with clear embossing ink and Penny embossing powder from Brutus Monroe. I love the texture and shine it gives the card.

I stamped the fun chicken and colored it up with Copic markers. I heat embossed the sentiment with a white pigment ink and white embossing powder on a dark brown card stock. I fussy cut the chicken and adhered it to the sentiment and then I added foam tape to the back of both and popped them up on the card. Voila!

Here's a quick list of the Copic markers I used:

Chicken / Eyes: C0, C2, C3

Beak: Y11, YR20, YR15, YR27

Waddle: R20, R14, R27

Hat: YG11, YG03, YG63, B00, B02

Present: YR20, YR15, YR68, B00, B02

Balloon: Y11, YR20, YR15, YR68

Now before we get to the hopping, I chose a lucky winner from the comments on last month's hop to win a fun prize and the lucky winner is...

... Wilma DeG!! Congratulations, Wilma!!

Please email me at crystalominkler@gmail.com to claim your prize. 

Please claim the prize before July 30th, 2025. 

Well, that's it for me this time! It's a short hop this month with just six of us sharing our makes. Be sure to hop along and enjoy some more inspiration! I can't wait to see how our friends were inspired by this month's cue. I will be doing another fun giveaway this month!! Be sure to hop along and comment for a chance to win. {When you comment please leave your name just in case it posts as anonymous.} I'll announce the winner next month! 

Let's get to the hopping...

Crystal <--- you're here

up next ---> Jenni

Toni

Rachel

Doreen

Joyce

Thanks so very much for supporting our little hop!

We appreciate you so much!!

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

{BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 58 ~ Christmas Tree Deer ~ A Colorful Life Designs

Hello there crafty friend!

It's time for a new sketch challenge over in the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Facebook group! Today I'm sharing a fun Christmas card featuring one of my all-time favorite stencils from our amazing Sponsor, A Colorful Life Designs! A Colorful Life Designs has generously offered up a $25 gift code as a prize for the {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 58 this month! So fantastic!

The fabulous Christmas Tree Deer Stencil is the very first stencil I purchased at A Colorful Life Designs. It's my most favorite and I just had to use it! I secured it to my Kraft card stock panel using iCraft Removable Pixie Tape. I also ran a strip of the tape diagonally across the panel and then I blended Mowed Lawn Distress Ink over the bottom portion of the stencil. 

I removed the tape and cleaned the stencil. I like to clean the stencil with just a touch of hand soap and then I rinse it thoroughly. I replaced the tape and blended Sugar Cube White Pigment ink from Taylored Expressions over the top portion of the stencil. I cleaned the stencil once again and placed it back on the panel. I masked around the deer and blended Vintage Photo Distress Ink with just a touch of Walnut Stain Distress Ink on the top.

I spattered the panel with White Acrylic paint spatters that I spritzed with just a drop of water to thin it out. I die cut two pieces of ric rac using the retired Ric Rac die from My Favorite Things. I also die cut two snowflakes using the Small Snowflake die from Gina Marie Designs. I adhered those together and then adhered it over the spot where the two ric rac pieces meet. I heat embossed a quick sentiment using the Simple Little Wishes from Unity. And then I finished off the card with a few confetti pieces from the White Glossy Card Bling from A Colorful Life Designs.

Here's a look at {BYSHC} Sketch Challenge 58 for the month of June. I flipped the sketch for my card today! If you're interested in seeing a bit more inspiration for this sketch, check out the amazing inspiration from the design team over on the {BYSH} Cardmakers blog!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky hugs,

Crystal

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Space Kitties ~ Preview Day 1 ~ The Greeting Farm

 Hello there crafty friend!

It's the first day of previews at The Greeting Farm for the May release! This month's release is fantastic!! It's filled with OHHHs and AHHHs! Be sure to check out The Greeting Farm blog each day this week!

I stamped all of the adorable images and the sentiment from the Space Kitties with Memento Tuxedo black ink and colored the images up with Copic Markers. I fussy cut them all on the line and colored the edges of the fussy cutting with a Memento Tuxedo Black marker. There was one exception with the ring around the green planet. I fussy cut a white border around the ring so the ring wouldn't get lost in the background.

Here's a quick list of the Copic markers I used:

White Kitty: C00, C2, C3, R00, R20

Orange Kitty: YR21, YR15, YR27, R00, R20

Gray Kitty: N0, N2, N4

Space Suits: C00, C2, C3, R20, R14, Y11, Y15, BG0000, BG10, BG01, N2, N4

Stars: Y11, Y15

Yellow / Pink Planet: Y11, Y15, RV10, RV04

Purple Planet: V000, V12, V15

Spaceship: Y11, Y15, YR15, R14, RV10, RV04, BG10, BG01, N0, N2, N4, C00, C2

Falling Star: Y11, Y15, YG21, YG23, RV10, RV04, BG10, BG01

Green Planet: YG21, YG23

I had a blast ink smooshing and blending a fun galaxy background for today's card. I started by ink smooshing Mustard Seed, Picked Raspberry, and Chipped Sapphire Distress Inks. I then blended Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink over the background with a blending brush. I covered most of the pink and yellow in the background so there were just a few 'bursts' of color. I blended around the edges and through the middle with Black Soot Distress Ink. 

Once the background was dry {or nearly dry... I'm an impatient cardmaker! LOL!}, I spattered the background with white acrylic paint that I thinned out with a spritz of water. I let the background dry overnight. When I came back to it the next day, I trimmed the galaxy background to 4 x 5-1/4" and adhered it to a black top fold card base measuring 4-1/4 x 11"; scored at 5-1/2". 

I played around a bit with placement for all the fun images and once I was happy with them, I adhered them to the card. I just love how this turned out! Release goes live in the store on the 15th at 12am EST.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Fun Bunny Background ~ Happy Easter ~ The Greeting Farm

 Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm excited to share a super sweet and fun Easter card with you all!

I created a fun partial background using the adorable bunny peep from the Happy Easter stamp set. The adorable girl is also from the same stamp set. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find the Happy Easter stamp set on the website. But if you'd like to add it to your collection, you can check out the Farmers Market and submit a request via email... maybe it'll be available for the next Farmers Market.

I stamped the girl and bunnies with Memento Tuxedo black ink and colored them up with Copic Markers. I also spattered the partial background with Mustard Seed, Tumbled Glass, and Kitsch Flamingo Distress Ink.

Here's a quick list of the Copic markers I used:

Girl Skin: E000, E00, E51, R00, R20

Girl Hair: Y21, E43, E44

Dress: V000, V12

Green Bunnies: YG11, YG23 

Yellow Bunnies: Y11, Y15

Pink Bunnies: RV10, RV02

Purple Bunnies: V000, V12

Orange Bunnies: YR21, YR15

Blue Bunnies: B0000, B00

Ground: C00, C2

I added a 1/8" strip of black card stock to break up the partial background. And I mat the cute focal image with a black circle mat. 

You can check out my process video here... Fun Bunny Background | Happy Easter | The Greeting Farm.

Anyone else working on Easter cards for their stash? I just adore how this one turned out! I hope I've inspired you to get inky.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Coffee is Better ~ Angie Blom Digital Designs ~ Coffee Loving Papercrafters

Hello crafty friends!

I’m super excited to be guest designing for the month of February for the Coffee Loving Papercrafters!

Today I'm sharing a fun mixed media card featuring digi stamps from Angie Blom Digital Designs. I combined and resized the frame and coffee cup from the Vintage Frames and Coffee is Better Digital Stamp Sets in a Word Document.

Printed them off on white card stock and colored them up with my Copic markers. 

Here's a quick list of the Copic markers I used:

Frame: BG000, BG01, BG72, E50, E30, E35

Cup: E50, E21, E23, E25, BG000, BG01, BG72, R20, R14

Red Background: R00, R20, R14

I ink smooshed a fun background panel using Vintage Photo and Ground Espresso Distress Inks leaving some white space on the panel. I also spattered some Ground Espresso Distress Ink from the leftover ink on my desk. I adhered the panel to an A2 card base of dark brown card stock. 

I popped up the sentiment, cup and the vintage frame using foam tape. Lots of fun dimension for this card. So much fun to make! I hope you've been inspired to get inky with your coffee stamps!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky hugs,

Crystal

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